An FHA guaranteed loan is a US Federal Housing Administration loan that an FHA-insured lender backs. These loans are also a form of financial assistance, commonly made available by the government to people who need financial assistance during a financial crisis. These loans are very much popular because their terms are quite easy on the pocket.
Such loans have many advantages over traditional mortgages in terms of federal assistance and cost-effectiveness. These loans are especially popular in high-cost areas, where people are keen to buy homes. The FHA loans also solve problems related to credit history and other financial constraints, as these loans do not restrict the borrower’s credit score and he or she is free to choose his credit-rating limit, which he or she may use for purchasing the home. In other words, under the terms of an FHA loan, there are no FICO scores required, and no pre-qualification criteria needed.
In the US, there are two kinds of FHA loans – the first is the home loans, and the second is the mortgage insurance. Home loans are offered at lower rates of interest and require lower down payments, which make them ideal choices for borrowers who are unable to come up with the required down payment amount on their own. Mortgage insurance is offered by different lenders and mortgage insurance is the sub-prime mortgage insurance. The FHA loans and mortgage insurance are mutually complementary. Since both these loans provide help in times of financial crisis, they help the borrowers by reducing the cost of house purchase and solving problems related to credit history and poor credit scores.
Since FHA loans have lower down payments and interest rates, they are more preferred by borrowers. The lenders also provide lower mortgage lenders’ rates than those for traditional mortgages. The FHA loans provide flexibility to the borrowers by allowing them to select the terms and conditions that meet their particular needs. Borrowers also enjoy certain benefits under FHA loans, like the option to pay only the first years’ balance, instead of paying the entire loan amount, even if the borrower fails to make the payments.
Mortgage insurance is sold by the mortgage lenders and provides protection to the lender in case the borrower defaults on the monthly payments. It ensures the lenders are against the loss. Usually, the buyer or borrower pays a specific amount to the insurer. In case the buyer or borrower fails to pay the premiums, the insurer compensates them by selling off the FHA loans. This enables the lender to recover at least the initial amount from the borrower and at least keeps him from defaulting on the FHA loans.
The federal government charges certain fees from the FHA loans and mortgages. These fees include the Federal Housing Agency (FHA) insurance premiums. These premiums cover the expenses for which the loan was insured and do not include costs incurred by the buyer or borrower due to his or her failure to pay the premiums. The buyer may pay the first-time homebuyer tax credit, or FHA rebate, depending on whether he or she qualifies for the said credits. Other expenses incurred by the buyer to include the appraiser’s fee, document filing fees, and appraisal costs.
The FHA insures loans taken from banks and other financial institutions. As long as the lender takes the necessary steps to ensure that the borrower’s credit score is in good condition, the FHA will give a stamp of approval on the mortgage application. This means that an FHA loan, approved by a third-party agency, can be used by anyone with a good credit score to purchase a house. However, this does not mean that people who have bad credit scores can apply for an FHA loan. The lender must rely on the information provided by the borrower and his or her credit history. So long as the borrower tells the truth, even if he or she had bad credit previously, about his or her past financial experiences, the FHA will issue a mortgage.
In case the primary residence is not located within the vicinity of the FHA-insured home, borrowers may get a subprime mortgage, which may include higher interest rates. However, subprime mortgages come with higher down payments and higher monthly mortgage payments. So borrowers should consider all their options before deciding on the FHA loans. Borrowers are encouraged to ask for pre-approval, as it allows them to better negotiate terms for their mortgage. If there is still doubt about whether the FHA would approve the loan, borrowers can request a duplicate of the FHA form online.